Check valve and venting means for hydrants



Dec. 25, 1951 v J. H.'SCHM|D CHECK VALVE AND VENTING MEANS FOR HYDRANTS Filed April 4, 1947 fia. 6.

INVENTOR.

bursting the pipe.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 CHECK VALVE AND VENTING MEANS FOR HYDRANTS John H. Schmid, Erie, Pa., assignor to J. A. 'Zurn Manufacturing Company; Erie,'Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 4, 1947, Serial No. 739,421

10 Claims. (01. 137-13) This invention relates generally to hydrants and more particularly to check valve and venting means for a non-freezing hydrant.

No adequate means has heretofore been provided in non-freezing hydrants to prevent water from passing back into the water line of the hydrant and standing therein above the frost line in the earth, thereby freezing the water and No adequate venting means has heretofore been provided in conjunction with means for preventing water from passing back into the water line of a non-freezing hydrant. Furthermore, no means has heretofore been provided for draining the water line above the check valve in a hydrant.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to overcome the above and other defects in check valve and venting means for a non-freezing hydrant and it is more particularly an object of my invention to provide a check valve and venting' means for a non-freezing hydrant which is simple in construction, efficient in operation, economical in cost, and economical in manufacture.

Another object of my invention is to 'provide a novel check valve for a non-freezing hydrant which prevents water from passing back into the water line and which permits a maximum flow of water.

Another object of my'invention is to provide novel venting means in conjunction with a check valve for a non-freezing hydrant.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means for closing ofi the vents in the water line of a non-freezing hydrant when the check valve is open and the water is flowing, and further means for draining the water from the water line above the check valve when it is closed and the vent is open.

Another object of my invention is to provide a check valve for a non-freezing hydrant wherein the maximum flow of water is permitted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a check valve which may be quickly and easily freed when frozen to its seat.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of my novel check valve and venting means on the upper end of a water line of a non-freezing hydrant;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 i afview taken on the line 3-3 of form of check valve for a non-freezing hydrant;

, Fig.5 is a vertical sectional view of another modified form of my novel check valve; and

Fig. 6 is another modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show a water line I of a non-freezing hydrant extending below the frost line of the earth having a threaded portion 2 on the upper end thereof for receiving a cup-shaped head 3 having a threaded flanged portion 4 for threadably engaging the threaded portion 2 of the water line I,

an inner upwardly extending seating portion 5,

and an internally threaded portion Ii for thread jtions II and I2 of apertures 9 and I!) so that the tapered heads I! seat in and sealingly engage the countersunkportions II and I2 of apertures 9 and I 0 when the water flows through the water pipe I and causes the check valve I3 to move upwardly away from its seat 5. A vent I8 extends laterally in the threaded apertured flanged portion 4 to vent the pipe line I to aperture I0 and it has a threaded portion I9 on the outer end thereof for receiving a threaded plug 20 to prevent dirt or other deleterious matter from passing into the vent line I8. It will be observed that the vent line I8 may be easily cleaned by removing the plug 20 and by extending a cleansing brush or the like therethrough. Furthermore, the check valve I3 seals the upper end of the aperture I0 when it engages the seat 5 while the aperture 9 is open to drain water from the head 3.

In operation, when water passes through the water line I under pressure, it lifts the check valve I3 away from the seat 5, thereby permitting the flow of water out of the head 3 for any purpose desired. When the check valve I3 is raised, the tapered headed portions I! of the screw bolts I6 depending therefrom seat in the countersunk portions II and I2 of the apertures 3 and I9, thereby preventing leakage of water from the head 3. When the valve (not shown) is shut off in the water line i, the check valve l3 will seat on and sealingly engage the seat 5 as shown in Fig. 1, thereby preventing back flow of water into the water line I. The water standing in water line I below the check valve I3 is drawn downwardly into a chamber 50in the hydrant below the frost line of the earth, thereby preventing any freezing of the water.

When the water pipe I above the chamber 60 in the hydrant is free of water, the vent I8 .is open to the atmosphere in that the tapered head I! of screw bolt is in the aperture I9 is unseated from the countersunk portion I2 of the aperture 10 in the head 3. drained through the aperture 9 therein when the tapered head ll of the bolt It is .unsea'ted from the countersunk portion ll of aperture .9.in that the check valve 13 does not seal the aperture 9 when it sealinglyengaiges the seat 5. Although 'I' -have shown the screw bolts l6 depending from ithe 'check valve I3 as threaded members, will be evident that they-may be pressed into aperturesin'the check valve -I3:'or they may be fastened in any-other suitable manner. Furthermore, the check valve l3 may take many different forms without departing from my invention.- When'the check valve 13 is frozen to the seat 5 in the head 3,-it may be moved away therefrom manually by pushing upwardly on the screw bolts l6. I -'1n the modified form of my'invention shown in Figfi I have shown-a water line2-i of a noni fre'ezing hydrant having'a threaded portion 22 -on the upper end thereof for threadably engaging a threaded flanged portion 24 of a rightangl ecl fitting 23. Fitting 23 also has an internally threa'ded flanged portion 25 for threadably engaging the threaded portion 2! of a downwardly extend-ing'angularfitting 25. v The fitting 26 has a threaded portion zii forthreadably en- 'gagin'g any suitable form of coupling member to couple'i-t to a hose or the like wherein Water may "be transmitted to the point where it is desired for'use. "The fitting 2-3 has a seating portion 29 substantially parallel but slightly inclined with re f erence to the axis of the water line -I and a *hinged check valve seats thereon as shown in Figs-6 when no Water is iiowing throughthe water jline l The operation of this device will be evi- 'c lent upon observation in that when water is. not flowing, the hinged check valve 38 willseat on the seating portion 53, of thefittirig 3 and nowater will fiow back into the water pipe! .Anyisuitable venting means may be provided 1 I I nxF ig. 5 I have shown anothermodililed 'form o'ijmy invention .in which aiwaterlinef'il hasla threaded portion ii on the upper. endthereof for jreceivin a cup-shaped head 32 having athreaded f'huhgportion 33. The head 32 has an upwardly extending circular shaped seating portion 44 upon .vvhich seats a fiateheck valve 45 hinged by the pin '4 6 .and having anoii-set portion 3.? with van aperture 38 for receiving a vheadedpintd with an enlarged tapered seating portion ;.5e .for seating .in a-tapered aperture}! in the head .52. It will ,lthu sbes'een that whenno water is flowing, the oheok valve 1 .5 will sealinglyengage theseat 44 f ftheheaddz as shown in Fig. 5 and no water gwilhflow back into the water line 49 but water steinding'above 'thechecl; valve 45 will drain off 'fthroughaperture 55. When 'wateris flowing under pressure throughthe water line 48, the

check valve 5 Willj nove upwardly and the oft set portion *4? thereof will move downwardly,

The water'in the head 3 is thereby causing the tapered seating portion 50 of the pin 49 to sealingly engage the tapered aperture 51 in the bottom portion of the head 42 to prevent water from leaking from the head 42 when water is flowing therethrough. Any suitable venting means may be provided. V

" In Fig. 4, 'Ihave shown a 'checkvalve similar to "Fig. l, utilizing both'apertures as drain apertures. The upwardly extending pipe 6| has a threaded portion 62 for threadably receiving a V v cup-shaped-head=53 with a threaded hub portion val-ve ieis away from the seat-65.

to. valve seat 65 is disposed centrally of the head 63. The head 63 has an internally threaded portion 56 iorthrea'dably engaging a threaded ,cap menibe'r 5-? having a threaded hub portion for connection to hose coupling or the like. The head F63 has-apertures 69 and it with countersunk portions !2 for draining liquid from the head 53. A flat check valve 13 seats on the valve seat and has threaded apertures 15 for engagirig threa 'ded bolts ifi having tapered heads 11 :complementary to the countersunk portions 1.2 of apertures es and 'ifi adapted to sealingly 'en'gage the apertures 69 and 1!} when the check Any suitable venting-means (not shown) may be'provided in -the head 63, or in the surge tank-of the hydrant atth'e 'foot of the'pipefil. The operationof this check valve is the sameas'the check valve shown =inFig.-l,except for'the different venting-means.

-It will' thus be seen from this foregoing description that I have provided a novel check valve 'vvhicl'i may be utilized in any device wherein, a iiuid line-extends vertically and venting means and check valve means are desirableon the upper -jen d'thereof, although my invention is particularly applicable to non-freezing hydrants wherein itfis necessary to prevent water from passing back into the water line extending below the f fi'ost line of theearth in order to preventfreezing of the water, which would otherwise standin the water line above the freezing point "of the A earth. in these devices it is further desirable to :have' venting meansfor the waterline l 'aswell asjmeansior "closing the venting means when "check valveand extending from said check valve and movable therewith for sealingly .engaging .said aperture in the lower portion of said head .whensai'd check valve moves away .from'said seat-in 'saidhead when liquid flows through said water line, said member being manually engageable externally'of said head to manually unseat .said .check .vaiva.

2. .In combination witha non-freezing hydrant,

--. anupwardly extending water line, acup-shapBd head attached to the upper end of said, water 7 line having oppositely disposed apertures in the lower portion thereof, a passageway in said head communicating with said water line, and an internalseat in said head surrounding said passageway and in a different plane than the apertures in said head, a check valve sealingly engageable with said seat, and sealing members depending from said check valve and rigidly attached thereto extending through the apertures in the bottom of said head for sealing said apertures in said head when water flows through said water line and moves said check valve from said seat in said head, said sealing members being manually engageable externally of said head to unseat said check valve.

3. In combination with a non-freezing hydrant, a vertically extending water line, a closed member secured to the upper end of said water line having oppositely disposed apertures, a passageway in said closed member communicating with said water line, and a centrally disposed internal seating portion in said head surrounding said passageway and in a different plane than the apertures in said head, a check valvefor sealingly engaging the seating portion of said member, and depending sealing members on said check valve rigidly attached thereto extending through said apertures in said member for sealing said apertures when said check valve is in an unseated position, said sealing members being manually engageable externally of said closed member to unseat said check valve.

4. In combination with a non-freezing hydrant as set forth in claim 3 wherein said member has a laterally extending venting aperture in the portion of said passageway between said seating portion and said water line and extending into one of said apertures.

5. In combination with a non-freezing hydrant, a vertically extending water pipe, a head attached to said water pipe having oppositely disposed countersunk apertures and a centrally disposed internal seating portion aligned with said water pipe, a check valve for sealingly engaging said seating portion of said head, depending members from said check valve extending through said apertures in said head and having tapered headed portions complementary to said tapered countersunk portions of said apertures in said head to sealingly engage said countersunk portions when said check valve moves away from said seating portion of said head upon flow of fluid, and a venting aperture extending laterally in the lower portion of said head to one of said apertures.

'6. In combination with a non-freezing hydrant as set forth in claim 5 wherein the upper inner portion of said head is internally threaded and a threaded adapter is threadably engaged therer with defining a cover for said head and a-threaded aperture for a, hose connection.

7. In combination with a vertically extending fluid line, a closed head having a drain aperture, 9. horizontal and a vertically extending venting aperture, a passageway in said head communicating with said fluid line, and a seat surrounding said passageway, a check valve for sealingly engaging said seat and said vertically extending venting aperture, and members rigidly attached to and movable with said check valve for sealingly engaging the apertures in said head when flowing fluid unseats said check valve, said drain aperture communicating with said closed head downstream of the valve seat and the vent aper- 6 tures communicating with said closed head upstream of the valve seat.

8. In combination with a non-freezing hydrant, a water pipe, a closed head on said pipe having venting apertures, a drain aperture, a passageway in said head. communicating with said water pipe, and a seat surrounding said passageway, a check valve for sealingly engaging said seat wherein water thereabove passes out of the drain aperture in said head, and members rigidly attached to-and movable with said check valve when water flows through said water pipe to seal said apertures in said head, said drain aperture communicating with said closed head downstream of said valve seat and the vent apertures communicating with said closed head upstream of said valve seat.

9. In combination with a discharge line, a housing on the end of said discharge line, a, passageway in said housing communicating with said discharge line, a valve seat surrounding said passageway, and a vent line in said housing, a check valve in said housing for sealing said discharge line upon sealing engagement with said 'seat, said venting means in said housing being adapted to vent said discharge line upon the sealing thereof by said check valve, means associated with said check valve for closing said venting means when said check valve unseals said discharge line, and means for draining the liquid from said housing when said check valve seals said discharge line.

10. In combination with a non-freezing hydrant as set forth in claim 3 wherein said closed member has a venting aperture extending radially outwardly from said passageway through and beyond one of said apertures, for venting said passageway to atmosphere when said check valve sealingly engages the seating portion in said closed member, said portion of said venting aperture extending beyond said aperture in said closed member having a removable plugging member disposed therein.

JOHN H. SCHMID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 397,088 Mills Jan. 29, 1889 761,366 Farnsworth May 31, 1904 922,131 Gold May 18, 1909 1,215,071 Steedman Feb. 6, 1917 1,224,546 Hull May 1, 1917 1,501,799 Neumeyer July 15, 1924 1,577,637 Hess Mar. 23, 1926 2,257,199 Sloan Sept. 30, 1941 2,233,200 Dreyer Feb. 25, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,043 Switzerland of 1902 10,134 Denmark of 1907 25,156 Germany of 1882 236,645 Germany of 1911 413,804 France of 1910 460,088 France Sept. 25, 1913 705,696 Germany of 1941 

